Medieval Knights Crusader Silver Ring From The Hungarian Order Of The Dragon
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:23840097 | Colour: silver |
| Material: silver | Provenance: ex private collection |
| Type: Knights Crusader Ring from the Order of the Dragon |
Medieval Knights Crusader Silver Ring from the Hungarian Order of the Dragon
Impressive heavy Medieval Knights Crusader silver ring from a member of the Hungarian Order of the Dragon. The ring consisting of a very solid and thick hoop richly decorated all around. The higher octagonal bezel depicting a dragon with its tail end wrapped around its neck. With its front and back legs it seems to hold a shield on which the beginning of the motto of the order "O quam" can be read. The ...further text is engraved inside the hoop "...misericors est Deus" (similar to "O how merciful is God)
The Order of the Dragon (Latin "Societatis draconistrarum") was an institution, similar to other chivalric orders of the time, modelled on the Order of St George (1318). It was created in 1408 by the Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund (while he was still king of Hungary) . The Order also required its initiates to defend the Cross and fight the enemies of Christianity, particular the Ottoman Empire. The original Order comprised twenty-four members of the nobility, including such notable figures as King Alfonso of Aragon and Naples, and Stefan Lazarevic of Serbia.
The Order of the Dragon adopted as its symbol in 1408 the image of a circular dragon with its tail coiled around its neck. On its back, from the base of its neck to its tail, was the red cross of St George. With the expansion of the Order, other symbols were adopted, all variations on the theme of dragon and cross. For example, one class of the Order used a (dragon being strangled with a cross draped across its back; another presents a cross perpendicular to a coiled-up dragon with an inscription "O quam misericors est Deus" (vertical) and "Justus et paciens" (horizontal) or symbols with a variant form of the dragon motif.
The Order flourished during the first half of the 15th century, primarily in Germany and Italy. After Sigismund's death in 1437, its importance declined in Western Europe, but after the Fall of Constantinople in 1453, it continued to play a role in Hungary, Croatia, Albania and Romania which bore the brunt of the Ottoman incursions. The Prince of Wallachia Vlad II Dracul, father of Vlad the Impaler, took his name from the Order of the Dragon.
approx. 15. C. AD - weight 19.4 grams - size 19.7 mm , US 9.5 , approx. UK S - Origin likely Hungary
Heavily worn ring with traces, scratches and small damages. Engraving, inscription and decoration partly with abrasion. Silver roughened from long storing under earth or age. Item is not finally cleaned preserving origin condition and patina. Material tested for silver
©
Impressive heavy Medieval Knights Crusader silver ring from a member of the Hungarian Order of the Dragon. The ring consisting of a very solid and thick hoop richly decorated all around. The higher octagonal bezel depicting a dragon with its tail end wrapped around its neck. With its front and back legs it seems to hold a shield on which the beginning of the motto of the order "O quam" can be read. The ...further text is engraved inside the hoop "...misericors est Deus" (similar to "O how merciful is God)
The Order of the Dragon (Latin "Societatis draconistrarum") was an institution, similar to other chivalric orders of the time, modelled on the Order of St George (1318). It was created in 1408 by the Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund (while he was still king of Hungary) . The Order also required its initiates to defend the Cross and fight the enemies of Christianity, particular the Ottoman Empire. The original Order comprised twenty-four members of the nobility, including such notable figures as King Alfonso of Aragon and Naples, and Stefan Lazarevic of Serbia.
The Order of the Dragon adopted as its symbol in 1408 the image of a circular dragon with its tail coiled around its neck. On its back, from the base of its neck to its tail, was the red cross of St George. With the expansion of the Order, other symbols were adopted, all variations on the theme of dragon and cross. For example, one class of the Order used a (dragon being strangled with a cross draped across its back; another presents a cross perpendicular to a coiled-up dragon with an inscription "O quam misericors est Deus" (vertical) and "Justus et paciens" (horizontal) or symbols with a variant form of the dragon motif.
The Order flourished during the first half of the 15th century, primarily in Germany and Italy. After Sigismund's death in 1437, its importance declined in Western Europe, but after the Fall of Constantinople in 1453, it continued to play a role in Hungary, Croatia, Albania and Romania which bore the brunt of the Ottoman incursions. The Prince of Wallachia Vlad II Dracul, father of Vlad the Impaler, took his name from the Order of the Dragon.
approx. 15. C. AD - weight 19.4 grams - size 19.7 mm , US 9.5 , approx. UK S - Origin likely Hungary
Heavily worn ring with traces, scratches and small damages. Engraving, inscription and decoration partly with abrasion. Silver roughened from long storing under earth or age. Item is not finally cleaned preserving origin condition and patina. Material tested for silver
©
